Gas-producer.



A. M. LBVIN GAS PRGEUER. MMcrwl'om FILED TUNE zo, 19m.

Hmm/15m A. M LEVISi GAS RODUGER,

` APPLICATION FILED JUNE S0, 1910.

1,008,883, Patented Nov. 14. w11.

3 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

ATTORNE XJ' A. M. LBVIN.

GAS PRODUCER.` APPLICATloN FILED JUNE so, 1910.

Patented Nox/.14, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WTNESSES:

. clean gas of the ash pit of the furnace. Fig. 5 is a detail UNHED STATES" OFFICE! 1. Anvil) M. Levin, .or fcnrfenero;ffrLLlivois.v i

1,003,833Q E j To all'whom tmay concern,- Be' it known-that I, Anvil) M. LnviN, a citi- Zen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago,l county of Cook, and State of Illinois, lhave inventedcertain new and useful Improvementsin"fGasProducers, of which the following isfa specification.

The invention relates to gas producers and more particularly "to fproducers designed for the gener-ation "from, bituminous coal'or lignite of gas suitable for use in explosive engines.

The invention seeks to'provide a simple and effectivegas producer furnace, the op'- eration of which can`` be readily cont-rolled in accordance with'the varying qualities of fuel employed and the different load condi` tions and which will produce a fixed and section .on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

' The improved furnace is preferably of the cupola type and comprises upper and lower sections 10 and 11 formed in suitable fashion of steel plate and arranged one above the other, asshown. Theupper distilling section isslightly smaller in diameter than the lower decomposing vsection of the furnace and is preferablyformed of double walls forming a watercontaining and steam-generating space 12 having anv enlarged upper portion 13. The upper section is preferably provided with a 'comparatively thin lining 14 of fire brick,.and the lower section, above its grate, is provided with a heavier fire brick lining 15 which is preferably conical in form, so that the space within the lower or decomposition section of the generator is somewhat smaller than its upper end. The

upper end of the lining 15 surrounds the. lower end of the upper furnace section 10 'which depends to a slightextent withinl they upper'end of the `lower section yThe top,V`

. seciacationvofLttersPatent. `Patented :ai Application mea June'o, 191e!s'eriaiinSeeger# uniform quality from bitumiplate of the lower section is provided, adjacentthe circular wall of the upper section, with a series of poke holes closed by plugs 16, so that the surface of the lining 15 can be kept free from lclinkers and cinders .A cast metal drum 17 is mounted upon the upper enlarged en d 13of the top section, and this drum is divided by annular partitions 18 and 19 into a central space or chamber 20 which com'inunicates with the upper end of the space in the distillation section and into two annular spaces or chambers 21 l and 22. The intermediate annular spa'ce`21 communicates with the upper ends of a series of tubes 23 that extend through the water space 12 of the top furnace section and com municate at their lower ends with the upper portion of the lower furnace section. The pasage of hot gases from the lower ,furnace section through the tubes 23 serves to generate steam within the upper end ofthe ,water space 12 and at the same time the gases passing through the tubes are cooled;

The outer annular' space 22 in ,the-top-l drum'l? forms an air, heater. At one poi L; I it 1s provided with two air inlets 24;

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Fig. 3) and at a diametrically opposite/point 1t communicates with a pipe which opens at its lower end into the ash pit 26 ofthe I furnace. The air heating space 22 also communicates with the steam. space of the chamber 12 through an opening 27, so that the steam generated within this space passes with the heated air through the pipe 25 into Athe ash pit and thence upward through the charge of coal.

The fresh coal is charged into the upper part of the distilling sect-ion 10l of thepr duccr by means of a suitable hopper 28 'which is-mount'edupon the upper portion .and near the periphery of the vdrum 1T.`

The upper end of the hopper is closed by a swinging cover 29 and, its lower end, by

a shift-able cone 30. The cone vis fixed to the end of a shifted rod 31 arranged to slide through a suitable bearing 32. At its outer end the rod 31 is-connected toa 'weighted bell crank 33. carried upon a pivoted supporting link 34. A.

signed for generating gas from bituminous cakingby meansof a suit-able stirrer ory agitator which preferably com prises a verticalv shaft 3'5 journal-ed at 'n.eupper end iu a .nos As stated, the producer is especially de! suitable bearing 36 secured to the top drum 17, and extending downwardly and centrally within'the upper distilling 'section 10 of the furnace. The shaft is provided with a series of projecting agitator' arms or lugs 37 and is slowly rotated by means of a worm wheel 38 fixed to its upper end and which engages a worm 39 upon a shaft 40. The shaft 40 is journaled in suitable bearings in an oil containing casing 40 hich surrounds the gears and the shaft is t riven from any suitable source of power. The worm'wheel 38 is provided with a depending flange 41 which forms a thrust bearing for the stirrer shaft or spindle 35. space 42 within the flange 41 receives oil to lubricatethe bearing 36 and prevent the escape of gas therethrough. A baille plate 8, arranged .within the space 2O at the upper portion ofthe distilling chamber. protects the drive gearing for the shaft 35 from the heat within the furnace. As an additional protection, the oil casing 40 is provided with awaterncontaining space or jacket 9 at its Alower portion.

The fuel within the lower or decomposing section 10 of the furnace is maintained in a state of high incandescence, and the air andy steamfadmitted to the ash -pit pass through the incandescent fuel, the steam .being decomposed and the oxygen of the air and lsteam uniting with the fuel to form carbon monoxid. These gases pass out through the vertical discharge tubes 23 within the water space 12 up into the annular chamber 21 in the top drum 17 and thence out through the exit pipe 43. The draft through the upper distilling section 10 is also in upward' direction. and the volatile hydrocarbons, driven oft' from the fresh coal. are withdrawn from the upper portion of the furnace through a pipe 44 by a fan 45 or equivalent means for maintaining a forced circulation. The distilled gases are delivered by the fan through a pipe 46 into the lower portion of the decomposition section 11 of the furnace, or into the highly incandescent zone thereof, and the volatile hydrocarbons are decomposed or fixed and pass off with the other stable gases through the tubes 23, to the exit pipe 43. v

Whenever the fuel used contains a high percentage of volatile hydrocarbons, the gases withdrawn from the upper part of the v furnace are preferably projected into the an opening 51, and with the gas chamberV through a series of openings 52. Air is admitted into the chamber 49 througha-branchA '5 5 leading from the lower end .of the pipe 25,

and having a controlling valve 53 therein. The'v volatile hydrocarbon gases distilled from the coal, thus pass from the upper end of the furnace 'and are forced through the nozzle 47 into the lower end or incandescent zone of the decomposing portion of the furnace. In the nozzle 4T the volatile hydrocarbon gases are mixed with a small amount' of preheated air and are partially burned and heated. Thereby the volatile gases, when of considerable volume, are' more readily decomposed into stable gases within the base section of the furnace.

A certain portion of the gases from the base section, of course. passes upwardly through the upper distilling section 10. To more readily control the heat in this upper distilling section and the volume of gases passing therethrough and thereby effectively drive oft all the volatile hydrocarbons in the coal. a regulated supply of ai'r is ad' mitted to the lower portion of the upper distilling section 10, but at a point well above the inlet ends of the tubes 23,' so that there no danger that any appreciable quantity of unreduced carbon dioxid will pass off through these tubes. The stirrer shaft 35 forms a convenient means for admitting the air to the lower portion of the distilling section, and for this purpose it is hollow to form a suitable air passage 54, and is provided at its upper end with a 'valve 54 whereby th amount of air admitted to the distilling section is controlled. By admitting the proper amount of air, sufficient heat is maintained in the distilling section to drive ofl' all the volatile hydrocarbons.

To insure the proper circulation of the gases distilled from the fresh coal in the upward direction and through the pipes 44 and 4G back into the lower portion of the decomposing section of th e furnace, it is necessary that the pressure within the upper 'portion of the distilling section 10 be slightly less than that within the exit pipes 43. otherwise the distilled gases would pass downwardly and thence out through the pipes 23 without being effectively decomposed or ixed"`. For thi.- purpose a pressure regulator is provfded. able form may be employed. Thatshown comprises a diaphragm regulator exposed on its opposite side to the pressures within the pipes 43 and 44. respectively. This reg ulator is arranged in any suitable manner to control the operation of the fan 45. In the form shown. see Fig. 3) the fan is driven by an electric motor 56, and the switch 5T for controlling the speed of the' motor and of the fan, is arranged to be ,shifted by suitable links or rods actuated by the 'diaphragm regulator 55.

By the present improved arrangement of updraft distilllng and decomposing sections,

i" l x.

the iproperfflowof., air land gases through both sections is insured, and the-distilled gases .are .maintained in forced circulation from the upper end of the distillii'ig section and through thehot zone of the decomposing section',1.so=.that they arev properly converted to fixed gases befpre passing outthrough tlie exit pipe43.' The 'lower base section may be provided with awater sealed ash pit or with any suitable form of grate. The novel form of 'grate shownvis preferred and it constitutes one of the features of the presentinvention.I This grate comprises a central conical poi-- tion 58 having a central, depending, hollow support or hub. 59 mounted upon t-lie upper end of a pedestal 60 that'rises from the baseV of the ash pit. A fixed annular plate 61 is mounted upon a series of brackets 69., fixed to the wall of the furnace at the upper portion of the ash pit. This plate extends around the'lower', outer edge portion of the central conical grate 58 and is spaced apart therefrom, as shown. The ashes and cinders passing downwardly between the conical grate 58 and the plate 61, lodge upon an annular plate 63 which is arranged below and is somewhat wider than the space between thegrate 58 and the stationary plate 61. The plate 63 is hung from va stationary plate 64, which supports the brick lining 15, by a series 'of swinging hangers or links 65, so that the plate can be shifted to shake the ashes therefrom down into the ash pit 26. The grate 58 and the plate 63 are shaken by means of a pair of shafts 66 extending through the ash pit on one side thereof and journaled at their ends in bearings 67. At -one end these shafts are provided .with 40 handle bars 68 by which they may be rocked. Each of these shaft-s is provided with a pair of oppositely projecting crank arms 69 which are arranged to be connected by links 70 to the grate 58 and plate G8. The links 70, extending from one Vof the shafts, are connected by ball and socket joints to apair of depending lugs-71 on the plate 63 atdiametrically opposite points and at equal distances from the center of the plate. The links extending from the other shaft 66 are connected by ball and socket joints to the A ends of a pair'of arms 72, which project laterally land in opposite directions from the lower end of the hub'59 of the grate 58. One -of these arms*v is longer than the other 'and the opening in the hub 59 is elliptical (see Fig. 2a) so that the grate 58, when. its shaft 66 is rocked, is not only oscillated about a vertical axis, but is also, at the saine so time, rocked to a slight extent uponL a horizontal axis.` If desired, the rocking of the 'grate can be effected "automatically from any suitable source of power. 4This improvedl 1 grate'.construction effectivelyv prevents the :55 `formation of air holes or chimne s 'adjacent the-walls of the furnace and /throughfwhich carbon dioxid and air might pass' to the outlet tubes 23.. The Aashes are removed from the pit-'26 through suitable doors 73, which are normally held closed 'in gastight fasli- 70 ion. Similar doors are provided in'linewith the grate for convenience in attending to the fire when necessary.

The gas passing from the producer through the pipe 43 passes `downwardly 75- through the cooler pipe. 74 and upwardly through awasher and scrubber 75. ,It rel ceives a preliminary cooling and cleaning in the pipe 74. Fortliis purpose, water is admitted in the upper end of the pipe 74 80 lthrough a small inlet pipe 76 and strikes upon -a spiral diaphragm or partition 77 that is supported within the upper end of the pipe 74. This diaphragm imparts a swirling motion to the water and gas, so that 35 thelatter are intimately mixed and cooled while any ashes or like heavy impurities are thrown againstthe walls of the pipe and washed down into the water seal at its lower end. -From the lower end of the pipe 74,

the gases pass upwardly through the scrub-4 ber 7 5. This apparatus preferably cornprises two cast inet-al sections which are connected by an inclined 'joint 7 8 (see Fig. 1)

be readilyparted so that tlie sections can for cleaning. Tithin each section 1s arranged aseries of Valternately disposed disks and annular rings 79 and 80 fixed to suppoi-ting rods 81 and held in position within the sections of the pipe 75 by bolts 82'.'

vWfater is admitted' through an inlet'pipe`83 to the upper end and' passes downwardly through the scrubber while the 'gas passes upwardly around the disks and annular plates. and cleaned and finally passes through a pipe 84 and through a suitable -gas holder to the engine.. The upper end portion or head 85 of the scrubber is preferably swi'velcd to a supporting bracket- 86 on 'the pipe 74 at a point in line with the' axis of the pipe 84, whereby the parts may be moie readily cleanedg' l The improved gas producer may ope-rate either under pressure or the gasescan be drawn therefrom by the suction of a suitable pump, or the like, or by the suction of the gas engine. The operation of the apparatus as a suction gas producer is preferred,but a suit-able' vent should beprovided for divert-ing the flow of gases from the producer whenever the lsuction ceases. In the present improved construction, the

lower ends of the cooler pipe`74 and of the The gas is thereby effectively cooled scrubber 7 5 are provided 'with'fa'water seal 125 andvent" valve ofnovel' form comprising a tank 8 7 and T-shaped heads 88 and 89, fixed to the lower ends of the pipes 74 and 7 5 and connected together, jas shown. I The T4 shaped part 88 isgprovided with-an p .ddi-1 1 d'omiwardl)v below. this level, while the pipe.

S8 terminates 'slightly above the same. livlien the apparatus is under suction. water will be maintained within the lower ends of the pipes SS, Q9 and 90, to effectively seal the same. If the suction in the `s vstein ceases, the water within these pipes will fall to the level maintained inthe tank 8T and the gas passing from the producer can thus escape around the lower edge of the pipe gas, instead of backing np -ginning of its operation,

88 and up through the pipe 90, to the escape pipe 91 and out to t'lie atmosphere. `Wlien the suction in the system is again started, the column of water in the lower end of t-lie pipe is restablislied bv means of a lianged plate or valve 93 which is mounted upon an arm 91 and is adapted to be swung into position over the lower end of the pipe SS; The arm 91 is hung from a shaft 95, and the outer end of this shaftcarries a weighted arm 9G which is arranged to hold 'the .plate 93 either in the position shown in the full lilies in Fig. 1, 4or in the position shown in dotted lines, over the lower end of the pipe SS. The plate 93 is provided with a. short. flanged opening or pipe section 9T which, when in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. :2, extends up into the lower end of the pipe SS anti down below the level of vthe water, within the tank Si', so that. suction created in the. apparatus will draw t-lie ywaterup into the pipe .SS

and seal it so long as the suction is maintained. ll'lien the water seal in the pipe SS is once established.l the plate 93 is swung back to the position shown in full lines. Then, when the suction in the svsteni again ceases, the water seal at the lower yend of the pipe SS is broken, as described. and the through the ash pit and aii supplv pipes, pai-ses through the vent pipe 91. 'ii'hen the producer is not in operation'oi when it is blown up at the beit is vented through thepipe 91. I

It is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the details set forth, without departure from the essentials of the invention,

as defined in the claims. I claim as my invention 1. A gas producing furnace comprising a vertical shaft having a lawei-{niain decomposing section and an upper distilling "section arranged to deliver'coke directly into lair inlet at its lower end to maintain a main ctnibustion zone ,and having an outlet for ,the fixed 'gases at its upper end, means for admitting a controlled, supplemental supply of air into the lo\V er end of said upper distilling section for maintaining a lsecond supplemental combustion zone at such point; and thereby regulating the distillation of the volatile gases, and means for maintaining an upward circulation of the gases throughout tlieshaft of said furnace *and throughout both sections thereof and from the upper end of said distillation section to the incandescent zine of said lower main section, substantiallyas described.

'2. A gasproducer comprising a lower-decomposing section and an upper distilling section arranged directly above said lower section and delivering devolatilized fuel directly into the upper end thereof, said lower section having a main air inlet at its lower end and said upper distilling section having a supplemental air supplv at its lower end to thereby maintain separate 'combustion zones at the lower ends' of said sections, means for maintaining an upward cit'culation of the `lgases throughout both of said sections and for maintaining a circulation of a suitable volume of the gases from the upper end of said distilling section to the lower portion or incandescent zone of said decenipcsing set-ti( n, said lower decompos-4 ing section having an outlet for the fixed gases at its upper end, substantially as described.

3. A gas producing furnace comprising a vertical shaft having a lower, tip-draft, niain section and an up-diaft distilling sectitn arranged diret-tlv above said main sectitn and delivering the devolatilized fuel. into'tlie upper end thereof. said lower main .section having a main air inlet at its lower end to maintain a main combustion zone and having an (..utlet for fixed gases at its upper end. means for admitting a controlled. supplemental supply of air into the lower end ci' sai-:l upper distilling section for maintaining a second supplemental combustion 'zene at such point andregulating the distillatitii of the volatile gases. means for withdrawing tlie gases from the upper end of .said distilling section and for forcing -them into the lower portion or incandescent zone of said lower main section, and means` for maintaining the pressure at the outlet end of said distilling section below that at the :outlet end of said decomposing section to thereby maintain an upward circulation of gases tl'irougliout both of said sections and ilu-event the back-flow or short circuiting of the distilled gases to the outletA for the xed gases. substantiallv as described.

4. i.' gas producer comprising an up-draft decomposing. section and an up-draft' vdistilling section arranged to deliver the de- 'ume of gases from the upper part of the distilling section .and for forcing the same into the incandescent zoneof said decomposing Section, an

pressure at the outletspof said sections for ina-in combustion zone if'arying the operation of said fan.

i'A gas producer comprising a lower -up- `vdraft,.'deconfiposing section' and an up-diaft, distilling section arranged directly above said-decomposing section to deliver the de- `-volatilized fuel into the upper end thereof,

said lower decomposing section having a 'main air inlet at its lower end to maintain a and having an outlet for thel fixed gases at its upper end and said distilling section havinga supplemental air 'inlet at its lower end to 4maintain a second supplemental combustion zone at such point, a burner leading into the. lower portion of said decomposing'section and; means for maintaining van upward throughout both of said sections and for withdrawing the distilled gases from the upper portion of said distilling section and for forcing -the same through said'burner Vinto the incandescent zoneof said decom- 1 posing section, saidl burner' comprising air and gas heating chambers and-a combustion chamber wherein the distilled gases are pariially burned and thereby heated prior to being forced into the incandescent I the decomposing section, substantially as circulationgof the gases described. y

6;x A gas producer comprising an. up-draft decomposing section and an up-draft distilling section arranged to deliver the devolatilized fuel into said decomposing section, means, for conducting the distilled gases from the upper end of the distilling section to the'hot zone of the decomposing section and. means for regulating the volume of the circulated distilled gases to prevent the, back flow thereof to the outlet for the fixed gases.

7. A gas producing, cupola furnace comprising a vertical shaft having-a lower deing the devolatilized fuel directly into the upper endthereof, said decomposing section having a main air inlet at its lower end and lan outlet for the fixed gases at its upper end, saidupper distilling section 'haying an airv inlet-opening intothe lower central portion thereof to maintain a supplemental combustion Zone,a st irrer-in said upper distillingl means for'maintaining an upward throughout vthe shaft of said'furnace and for circulating a suitable volume of the gases from the upper section,

a regulator controlled by the' circulation of the gaseszone of u end of said distilling sectionto the lower portion'or incandescent zone of the decomposing section, substantially as described.

8. A gas producing, cupola furnace com- -prising a lower, decomposing section and an upper ldistilling.Qsection arranged directly above said lower :section and delivering the devolatilized fuel into the upper end thereof, means for maintaining a circulation of a suitable4 volume of the gases from the upper end of said distilling section to the lower portion or. incandescent zone of said decomposing section, an annular water and steam generating chamber surrounding said dis.- tilling chamber, an outlet for the fixed gases and a series of vertical condenser pipes leading from the upper end of said decomposing section, extending upwardly through said water and steam generating chamber and communicating with the outlet for the fixed gases, substantially as described.

9. A gasv producing furnace comprising a vertical shaft having a lower decomposing section and an upper distilling section,

'said upper distilling section being arranged above said deeom -ering the devolatilized fuel directly into the upper end thereof, saidsections having outlets for the fixed and distilled gases respectively Vat their upper ends, means for admitting the main air supply andsteam into the lower portion 'of said decomposing section and means for admitting a controlled supplemental supply of air into the lower portion of said distilling section to thereby maintain separate combustion zones at the lower ends of said sections, means for maintaining an upward circulation of the gases throughout the shaft of said furnace and throughout both sections thereof and means lfor withdrawing a suitable volume of the gases from the upper portion of said distilling section for forcing the same into the lower portion or incandescent zone of said decomposing section, substantially as described.

10. A gasl producer comprising an up` draft, decomposing section having an outosing sectionl and delivlet for the fixed gases at its upper end, an c 11p-draft distilling section-having an outlet arranged to deliver directly to said decomposing section, means for maintaining a`circulation of the gases from the vupper end of said distilling section Vfor the volatile gases at its outer end and the devolatilized coal to the incandescent zone of the decomposing section, a stirring device arranged within the distilling section and having .a4 hollow bore through which air is admitted to the lower portion of the distilling section.

1,1. 1n a suction gas producer, the combi-A nation with an outlet pipe fortlie producer gases and with a vent pipe, of a water seal norm'ally .preventing the flow of gases to said vent jpipe and arranged to be broken by the. cessation of suction' With-in said out the' cessation of suction Within said outlet let pipe. v e pipe, and means 4for restablishing said wap 12. In a suction gas producer. the combiter Seal.

' nation with an outlet pipe for the producer u .ARVID M. LEVIN. 5 ases and with a vent pipe, of a water seal- Witnesses:

normally preventingth'e o'w of gases to` ELEANOR H. HAGENOW,

said vent pipe and arranged to be broken by IWHARINE GERLACH. 

